"How Did You Rest, Last Night?"

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"How did you rest, last night?"--
  I've heard my gran'pap say
Them words a thousand times--that's right--
  Jes them words thataway!
As punctchul-like as morning dast
  To ever heave in sight
Gran'pap 'ud allus haf to ast--
  "How did you rest, last night?"

Us young-uns used to grin,
  At breakfast, on the sly,
And mock the wobble of his chin
  And eyebrows belt so high
And kind: _"How did you rest, last night?"_
  We'd mumble and let on
Our voices trimbled, and our sight
  Was dim, and hearin' gone.

  *  *  *  *  *

Bad as I used to be,
  All I'm a-wantin' is
As puore and ca'm a sleep fer me
  And sweet a sleep as his!
And so I pray, on Jedgment Day
  To wake, and with its light
See _his_ face dawn, and hear him say--
  "How did you rest, last night?"

© James Whitcomb Riley